Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. My first question is for Bishop Jones and Fr. Bartlett. How widely have they consulted with women in the church? If they have, what is the mechanism for such consultation on this significant issue of women's health? Bishop Jones referred to the distinction between medical intervention and abortion. Will he explain what that distinction is? Does he agree with comments made to the committee by one of the legal experts during these hearings that the definition of life is a life that is capable of being born, or does he believe life begins at the moment of conception? Some of the other churches have been clear about their position on this, so could Bishop Jones clarify that?